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Thread: Terrible Ratio

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Pottstown, PA
    Posts
    24

    Default Terrible Ratio

    I boiled on Saturday - from my 33 taps I got about 45 gal. which boiled down to about 75 oz. of syrup. So, 75:1. Yikes.

    Last year was my first year, and I started end of February. My first week last year I got 60:1, and after that I got 70:1.

    Will my 75:1 improve this year? That's horrible. Are these trees not even worth tapping?
    2016 (first year, late start):
    5 taps
    1 pan block arch
    74 oz. finished syrup

    2017:
    33 taps
    6 pan block arch

    Manatawny Maple Works on Facebook

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,390

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Manatawny View Post
    Will my 75:1 improve this year? That's horrible. Are these trees not even worth tapping?
    It is very early. Sap sugar is typically low in the winter, and rises in the spring. It will come up when the "spring" comes.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Manatawny View Post
    I boiled on Saturday - from my 33 taps I got about 45 gal. which boiled down to about 75 oz. of syrup. So, 75:1. Yikes.

    Last year was my first year, and I started end of February. My first week last year I got 60:1, and after that I got 70:1.

    Will my 75:1 improve this year? That's horrible. Are these trees not even worth tapping?
    What kind of trees? 40:1 is for sugar maples. And even that is only an average - trees that get a lot of sun will give more, and those in the middle of a forest will give less. But other maples have less sugar in their sap than sugar maples.
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Birdsboro PA
    Posts
    1,326

    Default

    Don't feel bad. I sometimes average 90:1 with crowded woods trees and having the sap sit all week.
    first year 2012 50 taps late season made 2 1/2 gals.

    2013 2x6 homemade arch 180 taps. 20 Gals.

    2014 40 on 3/16 gravity 160 on buckets.

    http://omasranch.wix.com/omasmaple

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    westfield ma
    Posts
    438

    Default

    it will get better still , before it gets worse ( and by worse i mean hearing peepers while boiling in the late season, knowing the end is near ) , good luck
    2x6 leader WSE with AUF, hood,preheater
    waterguy RO
    leader 16 gal custom water jacketed canner
    10 in short stack wes fab filter press
    540 taps on tubing with vac & always adding
    2- benders running 25" hg from GAST vac pumps
    few stainless bulk tanks
    1978 chevy 1 ton 4x4 dually
    IH T340 dozer with 6-way blade

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